The 737 is in for storage. She will be frequently anti-det run etc. until being returned to flight status sometime in the future.

Yes the MDC cord on 894 is a fake. We simulated it with a simple length of adhesive foam fitted to create the desired effect!

I’m no expert on the Buccaneer escape system but I do know that the canopy can be jettisoned separately from the seats in either its open or closed position. When the canopy jettison handle is pulled, two guns fire releasing and forcing the canopy rails upwards and not the actual canopy itself. Because the canopy is attached directly to the rails the whole thing basically acts as a big lever forcing the complete assembly backwards towards the tail. I have never heard of the canopy being jettisoned whilst in the open position but apparently it can be done!

Also of interest is the fact that the Buccaneer was equipped with an automatic underwater escape system so that on immersion of the cockpit in water the MDC and seats would fire automatically. A true zero zero capability!

Plazz

The ‘Brick’ is looking great! How long will it be before we see three of these beasts growling under their own power at Brunty?

The August 2010 open day plan should go something like this…

Three Buccs all parked in a line. In turn each one starts their engines and carries out a simultaneous hydraulic exercise.
XX900 and XX894 will then taxi out to perform streamed high speed runs whilst XW544 shuts down.

This is the plan that we are working towards and I’d give it a 98% chance of happening as things stand right now!

By May 2011, who knows? Three Buccs going down the runway perhaps 😮

One more week to go before the remains of XV109 goes through the shredder 😮
Looking at her now it’s hard to believe I watched her fly in only seven weeks ago 😡

This is how it all looked on Saturday 15th May…

Plazz

My take on XV226 arriving at Bruntingthorpe today…

First off, some video footage…

http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f39/plazzdaman/Nimrod/?action=view&current=Nimrod.flv

She will spend the rest of this week being decommissioned and then the plan is to fast taxi her on the May open day!

Plazz

Plazz- I had no idea you were looking for a Bucc tank tip- you could have had this one! Good works anyway 🙂

Arrrggghh! Now one turns up!

Would you still consider parting with it? The taper at the front will be difficult for us to create accurately and as you will already know, the correct front part is threaded so we could cut a portion of the resin off, drill and tap a new thread and then screw it straight in! it would be very handy if you would consider it?

Thanks Plazz

Buccaneer XX894 Latest

With little hope of finding the nose cone for the port slipper tank the decision was made to just fabricate the whole thing with resin.

First a cone shape was mould was made which was taped on the front of the damaged tank…

Resin was injected into the mould, allowed to set which in turn produced the following results…

Some grinding, filling and sanding is starting to produce the desired result…

The other dents were also filled…

And another missing panel was fitted…

The starboard tank had its nose cone fitted by simply adding a new fixing bracket in place…

The fuel vents have now been painted…

And fitted, but these will come off again when the tanks are sprayed…

Apart from the slipper tank works, most of the day was spent bleeding and checking the brakes which was done successfully. Provisionally 894 will be out on the runway next weekend to start testing the brakes under power!

Don’t forget that regular updates for XX894 can be found here:
http://buccsociety.conforums.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=restorations&num=1166290082&start=165